A new study by the GFK research institute on the consumption of food organicly produced has revealed that in 2006 ninety percent of all German households at least once bought organic food. For the period from January to September 2006 expenditure on organic food also increased by 17 percent as compared to the same period in 2005. Given that the organic food range was broadened in food retailing the customer catchment area was also increased. Everything indicates an organic food boom.
Thus, from spring to autumn last year 85 percent of all households bought at least one organic food product. Over the same period in 2005 this percentage was 83 percent. Market growth, however, is not only a consequence of more purchasers, but also of more purchases. In total, in the first nine months of 2006 the organic food segment accounted for 2.7 percent of the overall food market.
The organic food offer increased in virtually any of the 29 food groups examined by the survey. At the top were fresh products such as fruit, vegetables, potatoes, eggs as well as dairy products. But also as far as products such as honey, jam and cereals are concerned consumers are meeting with an ever increasing variety of organicly produced food.
In particular discount shops increased their turnover by offering organic food. Here, over the whole period of 2005 purchases increased by 75 percent. And in the first nine months of 2006 growth rate in this area even amounted to more than 80 percent.
The boom of the organic food market is far from over. On the contrary: demand is growing and organic food is becoming even more attractive. The development could even accelerate, if the organic food offer were further increased. 